I-40 in Arizona: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 249 fatal crashes on I-40 in Arizona killed 299 people, the 3rd most of any numbered road in Arizona. In 2024 there were 31 fatal crashes and 37 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 5 counties of Arizona. All fatal crashes in Arizona. I-40 in every state.
Deaths on I-40 in Arizona by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31 | 37 |
| 2023 | 21 | 23 |
| 2022 | 32 | 41 |
| 2021 | 24 | 29 |
| 2020 | 26 | 30 |
| 2019 | 25 | 30 |
| 2018 | 22 | 29 |
| 2017 | 20 | 21 |
| 2016 | 17 | 20 |
| 2015 | 31 | 39 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-40 in Arizona: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Coconino County had the most fatal crashes on I-40 from 2015 to 2024: 91, with 103 deaths. Coconino, Mohave and Navajo counties together held 75% of fatal crashes in I-40 in Arizona from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 100%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coconino County | 13 | 91 | 103 |
| 2 | Mohave County | 5 | 49 | 58 |
| 3 | Navajo County | 5 | 46 | 64 |
| 4 | Apache County | 3 | 35 | 38 |
| 5 | Yavapai County | 5 | 28 | 36 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-40 in Arizona
The heaviest slot is Sunday, noon to 4 pm, with 15 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.8%
- Feb2.8%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr8.0%
- May8.0%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul13.3%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct11.2%
- Nov7.2%
- Dec8.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-40 in Arizona
6.93 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 359 miles of I-40 in Arizona, against 9.9 for all interstates in Arizona. That ranks 4 of 5 interstates in Arizona and 101 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-40 in Arizona first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a rollover in 29%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 19%, a pedestrian in 9.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 94 | 38% |
| Rollover | 71 | 29% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 46 | 19% |
| Pedestrian | 24 | 9.6% |
| Other | 7 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 1.6% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 3 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on I-40 in Arizona compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 15% of fatal crashes in I-40 in Arizona from 2015 to 2024, below the Arizona share of 22%; speeding in 37%, above the Arizona share of 33%; a hit-and-run in 3.2%, below the Arizona share of 7.8%; a driver recorded as distracted in 7.6%, about the Arizona share; 57% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the Arizona share of 54%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arizona. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-40 | Arizona | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 88% | 31% | above the Arizona share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.4% | 31% | below the Arizona share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 41% | 17% | above the Arizona share |
| A drinking driver | 15% | 22% | below the Arizona share |
| Speeding | 37% | 33% | above the Arizona share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.6% | 8.1% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 57% | 54% | above the Arizona share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.2% | 7.8% | below the Arizona share |
| A motorcycle involved | 4.8% | 18% | below the Arizona share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.7% | 21% | below the Arizona share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in I-40 in Arizona
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-40 in Arizona?
- 249 fatal crashes killed 299 people on I-40 in Arizona from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 31 fatal crashes and 37 deaths.
- Where on I-40 in Arizona do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Coconino County had the most fatal crashes on I-40 from 2015 to 2024: 91, with 103 deaths. Mohave County was second with 49.
- When do fatal crashes on I-40 in Arizona happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, noon to 4 pm, with 15 fatal crashes.
- How dangerous is I-40 in Arizona per mile?
- 6.93 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 359 miles of road, against 9.9 for all interstates in Arizona. That ranks 4 of 5 interstates in Arizona and 101 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Arizona with a page
- I-10
- I-17
- I-19
- I-8
- State Highway 101
- State Highway 202
- State Highway 260
- State Highway 77
- State Highway 85
- State Highway 86
- State Highway 87
- State Highway 89
All fatal crashes in Arizona, with every road ranked.
Where the I-40 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-40 in Arizona (filed under 8 spellings, such as "I-40", "I-40 NONCARD", "I-40 PURPLE HEART TRL", "I-40 S MILTON RD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.